The French Revolution and Modern French Socialism Essay Example for Free

The French Revolution and Modern French Socialism Essay The French Revolution Introduction How does the declaration of the rights of man and the citizen defy the political and social convection of absolutism and reflect enlightenment thinking as the basis for a new French society            The passing of the declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen in 1789 was the most profound thing that had a significant effect on the oppressed class. Before the declaration of The Righs of Man and Citizen, France was divided into a rigid oppressive social class, the clergy, the nobility and the peasants. The unequal class created the environment for the oppressed peoples to fight for their sovereignty, fraternity and equality. The outbreak of the French revolution in 1789 also made people from the St. Domingue to fight for their freedom, which broughtabout conflict between the various classes. The French revolution decreed equal rights to all citizens. Prior to the declaration of the rights of man and citizens, conflict arose between the people of color of St. Dominge and the whites (Goodwin, 219).            The incorporation of the writings of enlightenment thinkers such as Jean-Jacques Rousseau and Montesquieu were the guiding principles of the rights of man and citizen. According to Rousseau, the social contract between the ruled and the rules required rulers to obey the general will of the people, thus, if the rulers failed to do so, the people had the right to overthrow them. These ideas declared that the sovereignty of the people is located in them and nobody could exercise power over them, unless allowed by them. Such enlightenment made the people to have the political authority over their nation. Moreover, the declaration proclaimed gave the people power to remain free and acquire equal rights and protect the rights of the Frenchmen.            Prior to the Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen, a new French social contract was created whereby the constitution of 1791 was invalidated by progressive tension between the king and the deputies. The new French social contract changed the political and social contract systems to that of the sovereignty where people’s opinion had to be considered. The new French social contract that was created made the people who were divided about power to have conflict among themselves and the many elements of the people who felt themselves excluded such as women and the poor and whose status were not improved. As a matter of fact, Louis XVI was condemned to death and executed and the convections drew up a new constitution that reflected the enlightenment of thinkers such as Rousseaus concept of a social contract grounded on the general will (Goodwin, 231).            Moreover, the 1793 constitution reflected much on the enlightenment of Rousseau social contract held by the Jacobins. The imposition of this constitution in France generated a power struggle that resulted in the expulsion of more moderate divisions from the state and the concentration of power in Jacobian hands. The requirement of prosecuting the war against Europe joined Jacobian control, but competing interests and power conflicts remained. The deportment of the war, personal ambitions, and economic tensions all experimented the leadership of Jacobian so as to maintain the control and impose the version of the general will. It was all a counter check and violence against opponents so as to ensure the rights of man and citizen is maintained (S, 380). When reading the official indictment (formal charges) of Louis XVI, do you believe the National Convection is justified in condemning the king for reasonable treasonous actions? Or do these charges appear groundless?            Drawing from article 2 of the 1791 constitution, â€Å"the person of the king is inviolable and sacred: his only title is king of the French† (Paine,107), there was no need for the National Concetion to condemn the king for reasonable treasonous actions. Indeed, it’s only a vigorous challenge of royal inviolability that followed the King’s flight to Varannes. It was the work of the convections for the king to be tried by the legislature. The charges appear to have a constitutional base because the king should maintain and follow the constitution of the land. It is for this reason that the Convection places a trial against the king. However, though the charges are based on the constitution the Convection has divergence arguments about the King’s trial and have no prove that the King has committed all the crime that has been imputed to him. Moreover, the inviolability issue that was imputed on the King was by no means be confined to discus sion at the tribune of the Convection. For example, Jacques Necker acknowledges that the Convection has no power to try the King for inviolability. He argues that â€Å"The king cannot be tried as a particular and that he had not violated any constitutional laws†. Moreover, â€Å"He buttressed royal inviolability with historical references† (Paine, 110), noting that the kings could not in either way be tried by their aristocracies neither by partial men, and declared the constitutional doctrine both necessary and just. Likewise, an an anonymous pamphleteer providedandeceptive rarity for the King trial.            Moreover, the only claim that is seen is the issue about inviolability whereby the report from the Legislative body was just a question about whether Louisxvi was judgeable for the crimes he was imputed to have committed. As a result, the king was suspended by the Assembly whereby the Convection was given the mandate to elect the sovereign will. This affected the denial of noble inviolability, which seem as if it never existed. Likewise, the decision to focus consideration only on the article one of the committee report is a clear indication that Louis could not have been convicted because the convectionels were the one pushing for his conviction through attacking the â€Å"stupid dogma of inviolability†. Therefore, though there was no need for a trial against Louis XVI because he was already accused and condemn by the people, I do not agree that his condemnation was justified. It was more of a political condemnation (Paine,119). Upon reading, â€Å"The Execution of Louis XVI† as seen by Henry Edgeworth de Firmont, does the king appear brave, frightened or insolent on the way to his execution?            From the execution scene, the king appears brave on the way to his execution. The king seems to understand his mistakes. It might be the condemnation of the people that has forced the king to have extra courage because he is no longer needed in the society. It is the people who have convicted him to death and nothing he can do to go against their will. As we can see as soon as the king descended from the carriage, three executioners surround the king and wished him to take off his coat and though he repulse them, he does it with dignity and took it off himself. These are signs of a brave person.            The king also shows his bravery whereby when the executioners try to tie him, he abruptly withdraws his hands without fear, and the situation seems to exceed the executioners. He also responded in an indignant tone. Nevertheless, the king is also frightened of what he will undergo. He knows very well he must be executed. As we can see, his eyes are filled with a sorrowing look that turn to the executioners maybe to seek them to save him. His courage had started to weaken by the pain he seemed to take. According to the king, he is dying of innocent of all the crimes he has been imputed upon him. It might be true considering that he knows very sure the decision of the people is final and he has to face the death sentence. He therefore says in a frightened tone, â€Å"I pardon the authors of my death, and pray God that the blood you are about to shed will never fall upon France†. References Goodwin, A..The French Revolution,. London: Hutchinsons University Library, 1953. Print. Paine, Thomas. Rights of man being an answer to Mr. Burkes attack on the French Revolution.Waiheke Island: Floating Press, 2010. Print. S., A. W.. Book Review:The French Revolution and Modern French Socialism. A Comparative Study of the Principles of the French Revolution and the Doctrines of Modern French Socialism. Jessica Peixotto. American Journal of Sociology 7.5 (1902): 706. Print. Source document

Discovering the Things that Make Us Human: Evolution of the Brain :: Biology Essays Research Papers

Discovering the Things that Make Us Human: Evolution of the Brain There is a powerful sentiment among many people that human beings are the most intelligent and complex animals on earth. Our ability to use language is matched by no other species. It makes sense to assume that whichever characteristics of the human brain arent possessed by other animals, specifically primates, our closest evolutionary relatives, are the ones responsible for the acquisition, production, and comprehension of language. As the relatively new field of neuroscience develops, scientists are beginning to study the evolutionary relationships of brain organization and function in an effort to understand the regions of the brain responsible for language, abstract thought, and self-expression. This discipline, known as Paleoneurology, examines the development of the hominid brain (1). Paleoneurology has its roots in the fields of neurology, paleoanthropology, and primatology. There are two methods used by Paleoneurologists to study brain evolution: the examination of fossil sku lls and endocasts, and comparative primate neuroanatomy (2). The study of the evolution of the brain is useful, because it allows for an understanding of the origins of the structural differences between humans and other animals--in effect, what makes us human. According to the fossil record, the first brain structure appeared in reptiles around 500 million years ago. The functions of this hindbrain included breathing, heart beat regulation, balance, basic motor movements, and foraging skills (1). An interesting trend in brain evolution is that more evolved species tend to preserve the structures responsible for basic behaviors. In other words, evolution is the process of acquiring more and more sophisticated structures, not simply the addition of different structures. Therefore, the modern human brain contains the primitive hindbrain region, often called the protereptilin brain (1), and it is the seat of fundamental homeostatic functions. The major structures found in this region of the brain are the Pons and Medulla. About 250 million years after the appearance of the hindbrain, a new region known as the paleomammalian brain arose. This region consists of the hippocampus and cerebellum and is often referred to as the limbic system. As mig ht be expected, this region is associated with more complex functions such as emotional, sexual, and fighting behaviors (1). The newest and most intricate area of the brain, the cerebrum, was first developed around 200 million years ago. The highly convoluted surface of the cerebrum is called the neocortex.

Long Term Investment Decisions Essay

Long term capital decisions involve choosing how to finance long term projects. For a movie rental company, such decisions would include opening new shops in new markets or buying new machinery that would improve the firm’s technology. Before making such decisions, a firm has to do an analysis of the returns that the new project would bring against the cost outlay of the project. There are several ways of doing such an analysis. They include the payback period, net present value, internal rate of return among others. The main aim of conducting this analysis is to determine whether the expected returns meet a certain predetermined benchmark, usually higher than the risk free return. Rationale for government intervention The United States government intervenes in business processes in a number of ways; it has formulated regulation that governs the film distribution industry to ensure a level playing field, ensuring employee protection, protection of the environment etcetera. For instance, there are laws that govern advertising. These laws are set to ensure that advertisers are truthful and honest in their adverts. To protect the rights of employees, the government regulates issues such as the minimum wage payable to an employee, the maximum working hours and a good working environment. In addition, the government has put measures that regulate waste management and protection of the environment. Through the environmental protection agency, the government ensures businesses comply with environment protection regulation in order to protect the environment (Graham et al, 2010). Why Government Regulation is needed Governments in all countries in the world regulate business for both economic and social reasons. In the recent past governments have continually regulated businesses for economic reasons mostly to prevent falling productivity especially in developed economies. Social regulation is practiced in order to ensure businesses comply with the social or the moral expectation of the public. For instance in a movie rental company, the government would engage regulations that restrict distribution of pornographic and other banned films or limits the distribution to only the age appropriate groups (Khan & Jain, 2004). The main reason why a government is formed is to protect the rights of its citizens. There are a number of rights that if not protect may lead to social unrest. A government should ensure that property rights are enforced to ensure that the producers leap from their hard labor. In addition, the government should ensure the kind of media that is on sale is age appropriate. It should protect kids from content that may not be appropriate to them. For example, small kids should not be allowed to access pornography or content that is extremely violent. Another reason why a government should regulate businesses is to ensure a level playing ground for all firms. Because of the disparities in some resources a firm may possess an unfair advantage over other firms. In order to ensure that an industry is competitive, the government has to ensure that the industry has a level playing field and needs to be regulated. For instance, in the movie industry, the government may come in to break cartels that form in order to influence the prices of production and the distribution channels. Specifically, a government can put in place regulations that liberalize the market and break such cartels. In addition, the government has a moral obligation to protect the environment by ensuring that hazardous material is properly disposed. In a movie rental company, there are a lot of technological wastes generated. Lack of proper disposal of pc’s and other such like materials that cause cancer to humans may lead to increase in incidents of cancer. Therefore, the government must come up with measures that ensure that there are proper disposal mechanisms for such waste. The benefits of a merger There are a lot of advantages that blockbuster would enjoy as a result of forming a merger. One of the greatest advantages of forming a major is that blockbuster would enjoy the economies of scale as a result of operating as a larger company. Economies of scale occur as a result of reduction of average costs as a result of increased output. In addition, the merger can help blockbuster achieve diversification. For example, blockbuster can merge with firms that provide a different service from what it offers. By doing so, block buster will obtain access to knowledge and expertise that may help the firm gain competitive advantage. However, the advantages of forming a merger depend on a number of factors. Specifically, the success of a merger depend on the scope of economies scale created, effects on monopoly power, and the effects on cost. However, due to the threats, blockbuster chooses to pursue its expansion plan by capital investment. Capital projects are long term investments that are made to build on, or improve a capital intensive project. A project that is capital intensive requires the input of considerable amounts of capital especially financial and labor to start and run. They also require a lot of planning and resources. There are a number of ways that a firm can finance capital projects. Before determining the best way to finance capital projects, a firm should seek to determine the costs, the viability of the investment and the stream of returns from the investment. Despite the advantages of forming a merger, there are a lot of complexities that makes it less attractive to form a merger. For example, there is the issue of dilution of control. By forming a merger, the firm will reduce the amount of control it has on decision making. It will have to contend with the inclusion of new investor who will inherit the right to vote on significant decisions. This may change the goals of a company and work to slow decision making. A merger also reduces the public’s confidence in a firm. The public may construe the move as a measure to save the firm from imminent failure. In order to eliminate these complexities, it becomes paramount to seek alternative ways of expanding a business. One of the alternatives is capital expenditures. However, it is not overly advantageous. Complexities of funding expansion using capital expenditures The cost outlay of financing capital expenditures is particularly high. Therefore, a firm has to do a comprehensive review of the cost and benefits of using the available funds to expand the business. In addition to the cost, capital expenditures require a huge investment of time and labor. Given that these resources are limited a firm is constrained by the availability of the factors of production. For a firm that has limited resources will find it extremely difficult to expand via capital expenditures. Convergence of the needs of the stockholders and managers The need of stockholders is to maximize increase their wealth. On the other hand, the management aims to achieve management efficiency and increase a business’s competitiveness. The common goal of both parties is profitability. A stockholders wealth is increased significantly by profits. On the other hand, a business becomes efficient if uses the least resources to achieve the greatest possible profit (Thukaram, 2003). The method of expansion chosen for the firm will be the most efficient and that will maximize the return on investment by the stockholders. To determine the returns from the investment a firm can use scientific ways of measuring the highest possible level of returns. These methods include, evaluating the marginal rate of return for the project.

Book Review Adventures On The Alimentary Canal By Mary...

Gulp: Adventures on the Alimentary Canal by Mary Roach is a truly fascinating novel that explores the body’s digestive system, beginning at the nose and ending with the rectum. Roach encaptures the reader with a not-so encapturing topic, and throughout the book uses humor and startling facts to keep the reader engaged. Gulp is not only about the human digestive system, but humans as people as well. Roach dives into cultural differences, provides interesting historical facts, and explores scientific investigations all while informing the reader on the human digestive system. The book begins with the nose, surprisingly, in which Roach informs the reader that eighty to ninety percent of the sensory experience of eating is olfaction, the sense of smell (Roach 24). Roach introduces the reader to Sue Langstaff, a sensory analyst, and takes the reader through her experience of training to be apart of the new UC Davis Olive Oil Taste Panel. Roach explains how humans perceive different tastes and smells, and how important sensory analysts and panels are to product development. She goes on to explain how humans differ from their pets in the sense of what they like to eat, due to the difference of how animals and humans perceive different flavors. Humans tend to feed their pets based on their own food preferences, but since animals have different senses of taste than humans, they may not like the food their owners give them. Speaking of preferences, Roach dives into the depths of why